We used biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) to anterogradely label individual axons projecting from primary somatosensory cortex (S1) to four different cortical areas in rats. A major goal was to determine whether axon terminals in these target areas shared morphometric similarities based on the shape of individual terminal arbors and the density of two bouton types: en passant (Bp) and terminaux (Bt). Evidence from tridimensional reconstructions of isolated axon terminal fragments (n=111) did support a degree of morphological heterogeneity establishing two broad groups of axon terminals. Morphological parameters associated with the complexity of terminal arbors and the proportion of beaded Bp vs stalked Bt were found to differ significantly in these two groups following a discriminant function statistical analysis across axon fragments. Interestingly, both groups occurred in all four target areas, possibly consistent with a commonality of presynaptic processing of tactile information. These findings lay the ground for additional work aiming to investigate synaptic function at the single bouton level and see how this might be associated with emerging properties in postsynaptic targets.

The objective was to characterize the levels of progesterone (P4) and 17β estradiol (E-17β) in blood of 11 Pecari tajacu adult females in captivity. The females were in the presence of males but separated by a wire mesh. Blood samples were taken every 6 days during 3 months. The estimation of the levels of the steroid hormones was carried out by radioimmunoassay in solid phase. Hormonal profiles were plotted against time, to determine the duration of each ovarian cycle and the number of cycles. Nine animals showed estrous cycle and 2 did not. The average duration of the ovarian cycle was 26.8±4.8 days. The average concentration of P4 in the luteal phase was 22.95±4.94 ng/mL, and during the follicular phase was 1.2±0.73 ng/mL (p<0.05). The levels of E-17β in the luteal phase were 6.89±2.79 pg/mL, and 32.17±7.29 pg/mL in the follicular phase (p<0.05). The presence of the ovarian cycles was variable, although the duration was within the range of values established for this species under captivity. The synchrony of the hormonal profiles of P4 and E-17β during the ovarian cycle was inverted.

El objetivo fue caracterizar los perfiles de progesterona (P4) y 17β estradiol (E-17β) sanguíneos de 11 hembras adultas de P. tajacu mantenidas en cautiverio. Las hembras estaban en presencia del macho pero separadas de éste mediante una malla. Las muestras sanguíneas se tomaron cada 6 días durante 3 meses. La estimación de hormonas esteroides se efectuó por radioinmunoanálisis en fase sólida. Los perfiles hormonales fueron graficados con respecto al tiempo para determinar la duración de cada ciclo ovárico y la cantidad de ciclos. Nueve hembras ciclaron y 2 no. La duración promedio del ciclo ovárico fue 26,8±4,8 días. La concentración media de P4 en la fase luteal fue 22,95±4,94 ng/mL, y durante la fase folicular 1,2±0,73 ng/mL (p<0,05). Los niveles de E-17β en la fase luteal fueron 6,89±2,79 pg/mL y 32,17±7,29 pg/mL en la fase folicular (p<0,05). La presentación de los ciclos ováricos fue variable, aunque la duración estuvo dentro de los rangos establecidos para esta especie en cautiverio. La sincronía de los perfiles hormonales de P4 y E-17β fue inversa durante el ciclo ovárico.

The manufacturing process of metal parts is subjected to machining instabilities that can degrade the surface finish quality and the reliability of products. Some instabilities are of transient nature and traditional inspection systems are unable to adequately estimate the grade of affectation in the finished parts. Time-frequency analyses are techniques that overcome these limitations and have recently been incorporated in special industry inspection equipment to improve the quality of the manufactured parts. Grinding is a process used to get high precision and very smooth surface in flat or cylindrical parts because of the target applications such as the automotive industry where the highest standards can be found. This paper reports a technique to estimate the quality of ground parts based on time-frequency transforms that are used to enhance the defects. This makes it easier to implement the technique for surface characterization in online pass/no-pass inspection machines. The fundamentals of the methodology are revised and the technique is applied to the identification of vibration marks in cylindrical ground rods. Results show that this approach identifies adequately imperfections of transient nature and it is able to estimate the extension and amplitude of the defects on the surface of the manufactured parts.

Los procesos de manufactura de partes metálicas se encuentran sujetos a inestabilidades en la maquinaria que pueden degradar la calidad superficial de los productos y su confiabilidad. Algunas inestabilidades son de naturaleza transitoria por lo que los sistemas de inspección tradicionales no son capaces de estimar adecuadamente el grado de afectación del acabado superficial. Los análisis de información en el dominio tiempo-frecuencia son técnicas que superan estas limitaciones y se han incorporado gradualmente en equipos especiales en la industria para mejorar la calidad de las partes manufacturadas. El rectificado es un proceso utilizado para obtener una superficie de gran precisión y calidad en piezas planas o cilíndricas, en aplicaciones tales como la automotriz, en donde se tienen las más altas exigencias de calidad. En este trabajo se reporta una técnica para estimar la calidad del acabado en piezas rectificadas, basada en una transformada tiempo-frecuencia, la cual es utilizada para destacar los defectos producidos durante el maquinado. Esto facilita la implementación de técnicas para caracterización superficial en sistemas de inspección en línea pasa/no-pasa. Se revisan los fundamentos de la metodología y se aplica el método en la identificación de defectos en piezas cilíndricas rectificadas. Los resultados muestran que la técnica es capaz de identificar defectos de naturaleza transitoria así como la extensión y amplitud de los defectos sobre la pieza inspeccionada.

Some of the main investigations on calibration methods of parallel mechanisms are briefly discussed in this work. Initially, the identification of errors in these structures applied to machine tools is presented, later the kinematics and the concept of parallel mechanisms calibration is introduced. Additionally, the main characteristics of the existing methods of calibration are discussed, such as the parametrical approaches, the calibration methods with internal/external measuring devices, innovative calibration methods and works that provide assistance to this aim.

Las investigaciones más relevantes sobre métodos de calibración de mecanismos paralelos se discuten brevemente en este trabajo. Inicialmente se aborda la identificación de errores de estas estructuras como aplicación a las máquinas herramienta, después se introduce la cinemática y el concepto de calibración de los mecanismos paralelos. Adicionalmente, se discuten las principales características de los métodos de calibración existentes, tales como los métodos paramétricos, los métodos de calibración con dispositivos internos/externos de medición y trabajos adicionales que proporcionan ayuda para este fin.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of stress produced by two stocking densities in the collared peccary (Pecari tajacu) in captivity. Four groups of adult animals (N= 20) were established: one group of females (n= 5) and other of males (n= 5) were correlated under a stocking density of 20 m²/animal, and the other two groups under a density of 10 m²/animal, during 30 days. Three blood samples per animal were taken at 0, 15 and 30 days and the amount and type of body lesions were registered at 3, 15 and 30 days of the study period. Cortisol levels were measured by radioimmunoanalysis tests. Data were analyzed for each sampling day using Fisher or analysis of variance tests. There were not effects of sex and stocking density on the number of animals with lesions. The analysis of variance showed no effect of density (p>0.05) on the amount of lesions or cortisol level at any of the evaluation days. However the interaction of sex x density was significant on cortisol at days 15 (p<0.03) and 30 (p<0.0005). In average females had higher levels of cortisol than males (10.1 and 7.5 mg/dl). The interaction was due to a greater concentration of cortisol in females kept under a density of 10 m²/ animal in comparison with males; but there was no differences between sexes at the stocking density of 20 m²/animal. It is concluded that the effect of stress, measured through the levels of cortisol in blood, depends of sex and stocking density.

El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el nivel de estrés producido por dos densidades de población en pecaríes de collar (Pecari tajacu) en cautiverio. Se formaron cuatro grupos de animales (N= 20), todos adultos; un grupo de hembras (n= 5) y otro de machos (n= 5) se colocaron en corrales con una densidad de población de 20 m²/ animal, y los otros dos grupos en densidades de 10 m²/animal durante 30 días. Se tomaron muestras sanguíneas a cada animal a los 0, 15 y 30 días, y se registraron las cantidades y tipo de lesiones corporales por animal a los 3, 15 y 30 días del periodo de estudio. Los niveles de cortisol sanguíneo se midieron a través de pruebas de radioinmu-noanálisis. Los datos se analizaron para cada día de muestreo utilizando pruebas de Fisher o análisis de varianza. No se encontraron efectos de sexo y densidad en el número de animales lesionados. El análisis de varianza no mostró efecto de densidad (p>0,05) sobre la cantidad de lesiones o niveles de cortisol, en ninguno de los días evaluados. Sin embargo, la interacción sexo x densidad tuvo efecto sobre cortisol los días 15 (p<0,03) y 30 (p<0,0005). En promedio, las hembras tuvieron mayores niveles de cortisol que los machos (10,1 y 7,5 mg/dl). La interacción se debió a una mayor concentración de cortisol en las hembras a la densidad de 10 m²/animal en comparación con los machos; pero no hubo diferencias entre sexos a la densidad de 20 m²/animal. Se concluye que los efectos del estrés, medido mediante los niveles de cortisol en sangre, dependen del sexo y densidad poblacional.

Objective: To describe the clinical data and the results of molecular analyses of the mitochondrial DNA in a patient with Kearns-Sayre Syndrome. Methods: Molecular analyses of mitochondrial DNA from the patient included PCR amplification of a region where the common Kearns- Sayre deletion is located and Genotype-Phenotype correlations are discussed. Results: The affected patient showed ptosis, progressive external ophthalmoplegia, pigmentary changes in the peripheral retina and right bundle block. Molecular analysis disclosed a ~5kb deletion in the mitochondrial DNA and some wild type mtDNA indicating heteroplasmy. Conclusions: Molecular analysis of mitochondrial DNA confirmed the clinical diagnosis of Kearns-Sayre syndrome. PCR provides a rapid method to identify the common 4997 bp deletion in Kearns-Sayre syndrome. In such cases, PCR diagnosis could avoid invasive methods such as muscle biopsy or spinal tap.

Objetivo: El síndrome de Kearns-Sayre (SKS) es un trastorno neuromuscular causado por defectos genéticos en el DNA mitocondrial siendo deleciones de tamaño variable la alteración mas común. Se describen las características clínicas y los resultados del análisis molecular del DNA mitocondrial en una paciente Mexicana con Síndrome de Kearns-Sayre. Métodos: Examen oftalmológico completo, caracterización fenotípica del Síndrome de Kearns-Sayre y análisis del DNA mitocondrial mediante reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR). Se discuten correlaciones genotipo-fenotipo. Resultados: La paciente afectada mostró ptosis, oftalmoplejia progresiva externa cambios pigmentarios en retina periférica y bloqueo de rama derecha del haz de His. Los análisis moleculares revelaron una deleción de ~5 kb en el DNA mitocondrial además de trazas de DNA sin alteraciones indicando heteroplasmia. Conclusiones: El análisis molecular del DNA mitocondrial confirmó el diagnostico clínico de síndrome de Kearns-Sayre. La utilización de PCR, como se describe en este trabajo, es un método rápido y económico para el diagnóstico de la deleción común de 4977 pb en el síndrome de Kearns-Sayre. En estos casos, el diagnóstico por PCR evitaría procedimientos diagnósticos invasivos y traumáticos como biopsia muscular o punción lumbar.

O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar a associação de hialuronato de sódio e sulfato de condroitina no tratamento da doença articular degenerativa (DAD) em cães. Dez cães sem raça definida foram submetidos à secção artroscópica do ligamento cruzado cranial visando o desenvolvimento da DAD. Após 21 dias, foi substituído cirurgicamente o ligamento cruzado cranial em todos os animais e iniciado o tratamento com associação de hialuronato de sódio e sulfato de condroitina em cinco cães, sendo os remanescentes utilizados como grupo-controle. Avaliações artroscópica e radiológica do membro posterior esquerdo foram realizadas antes da secção do ligamento, no dia da sua substituição e 90 dias após a cirurgia. Histologicamente, o efeito da associação de hialuronato de sódio e sulfato de condroitina foi mais evidente na membrana sinovial, observando-se regeneração da camada íntima e diminuição da infiltração linfoplasmocitária na sub-íntima. Artroscópica e macroscopicamente não houve prevenção das lesões cartilaginosas decorrentes da DAD.

The aim of this study was the assessment of hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulphate association in the therapy of degenerative joint disease (DJD) in dogs. Ten mongrel dogs underwent arthroscopic section of cruciate cranial ligament aiming the development of DJD. Twenty one days after the procedure, surgical substitution of cruciate cranial ligament was carried out in all animals. Then five animals were treated with the combination of hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulphate. The other five dogs were used as controls. Arthroscopical and radiological evaluations of the left fore limb were carried out before arthroscopic section at the some day and 90 days after cruciate cranial ligament substitution. Histologically the effect of the association of hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulphate was more evident in the synovial membrane that had regeneration of the intimal layer and reduced lympho-plasmocitic infiltrate in the sub-intimal layer. However, the treatment did not prevent DJD cartilage lesions evaluated by arthroscopy and radiology.

Foram estudadas, em condições controladas, a acumulação de matéria seca e a de macronutrientes na variedade de arroz IAC-47. Ambos os processos em geral são descritos por sigmóides típicas; picos para os valores totais de produção de matéria seca e de acumulação de elementos entre: 100 e 140 dias depois da germinação.

Rice plants, variety IAC-47, were grown in the nº 2 nutrient solution of HOAGLAND & ARNON (1950) until the end of the life cycle. Plants were sampled at well defined physiological periods for analyses. It was verified that trends for levvelling off occurred in the case of accumulation of N, K and Ca. Translocation from leaves to grain was observed with respect to N, P and K. Maximum rates of uptake of all elements took place from 50 to 100 days after germination.